Resurgent receiver will test old foe
the time,” Haden said. “We had battles. Some games he was getting the best of me and some game I’d get the best of him.”
Maybe that’s why Green listed Haden as the second -toughest cornerback he’s played against (behind Arizona’s Patrick Peterson) when he compiled a top-5 list for The Players Tribune.
Here’s what Green wrote about Haden, whom the Steelers signed to a three-year, $27 million contract after he was released by the Browns:
“Two things come to mind when I think about Joe. One, this guy has got the longest arms I’ve ever seen on a corner his size. I remember the first time I lined up across from him in college, I looked down and his fingers were almost touching his ankles. He’s dangerous because he’s only 5’ 11”, but he’s got a surprisingly long reach. Two, this guy has four brothers. You know a guy is going to be super competitive when he’s got four brothers.
“When you line up against Joe, he’s going to be laying hands on you all day. He’s going to initiate contact off the line with a quick stab to try to throw off your timing, and then try to ride your back hip the whole way.”
From 2011 to 2014, Green and Haden met seven times and the Bengals receiver had 28 receptions on 60 targets, 416 yards and three touchdowns.
However, in the last four meetings, Green was held to 17 catches for 130 yards and no touchdowns on 41 total targets, a 41.5 percent catch rate and just 7.65 yards per catch.
Green had two touchdown catches on Haden the first couple years they met – a 51-yarder in 2011 and a 57-yarder in 2012.
But, Green has not had a touchdown since against Haden, though it must be noted they did not face each other in 2015 and 2016.
“Joe knows that if he can just disrupt your first two steps off the line, he’s got you,” Green said. “He’s probably the best there is at knocking you off your route just a little bit — just enough where the ball is a half second early or a half second late. This is the kind of stuff that doesn’t always make the highlights, but that you appreciate as a player.”
Since the Bengals fired offensive coordinator Ken Zampese after two games and replaced him with Bill Lazor, the Green-Andy Dalton connection has been reignited.
In his past three games, Green has 22 catches for 363 yards (16.6-yard ave.) and three touchdowns, including a 77-yarder against the Buffalo Bills that was his longest in two years. Green had seven catches for 189 yards against the Bills, the most yardage by an NFL receiver this season.
Green (6-4, 210) hasn’t had success like that against Haden (5-11, 195), even though he enjoys a size advantage.
“I like to get my hands on A.J. at the line,” Haden said. “He’s a very fast, long receiver, and when I play against those bigger guys, they’re not as quick as A.B. and those dudes, so I’m able to get hands on them and stay on their hip.”
Haden, who has three career interceptions against Dalton, does not have an interception with the Steelers and has only three pass breakups. However, since his former team tested him repeatedly in the season opener in Cleveland, Haden has had few passes thrown in his direction.